Tank gauge



V 'June 6, 1950 I L. w. scHuEslsLrzR I 2510,663

' TANK GAUGE I -Fiied Jan. 17. 1947 Patented June 6, 1950:

UNITED Mrs-Nr This invention relates to improvements in a; tank gauge'.

The principal objects of this invention are:v

First, to provide a' simplified tank gauge'of the 'multiple float direct reading type which projec'ts on'l a short distance above the tank and is se-V curely sealed against the escape of vapor from `the tank. Second, to provide novel means for mounting and s'e'aling' a sight tube for a multiple float g'auge on the fill'er cap or other portin of a' tank. V

Third, to provide 'a no`vel indicating assembly on' the ends Vof the Sight rods of a multiple fioat 'gauge which assembly renders the gauge readil-y eadable from any direction.`

Fourth, to Aprovide a .g'auge' of the type desribed which is inexpensive to manufacture van' 'pleasing in a'pp'earance'.

Other objects and advantags pe'taining to the details and econornies of. the 'invention 't'villy be apparent from a consideration-of the` follow- 4ing descrinti'on and claims.

' The. drawings, of which there is one sheet, -illiistrat'e v'a preferred form of my `ga'uge as aniilied to'th'e fiiel tank'of a tractoi'.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sec'- tion'al view 'of a tractor 'showing the gaugefapplied t'o vthe fuel tank of the tractor.i v Fig. 2 is a fragmentary 'Vertical cross sectional view along the line 2-"2 in Fig'. l vari'd showing the fuel Vtank nearly empty.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the'g'uide 'tubea'of the gaug'e shown in Fi'gz. V'2; z Figi 4 is a fragmentary cross 'secti'nal vview 'similar to Fi'g. 2 but 'showing the Vtank fulifo'f fu'el with the gauge indicati'ng ;acbrresponding reading.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional `view *similar to Fig's. 2 and '4 butillustrating .the tank ls'lighizly over one-'third full. 1

Fig. '6 i's a fr'agmentary 'exploded elevatlonal 'view showing the details of'cons'tructicnv of 'the 'iiid'icator portion's'of the sight -rods shown in 'Figs 3, 4 'and 5.

The simplest form of liquid zgauge for a. tank is fa. flat .provided with-t. 'sig'htr'odfwhi'ch projects through the top of'the |tankv and'rises and fall's with Vthe fio'at'as thezliquid'leve 'in the tank fchaifiges.V This tyise ofgauge'has 'thedi'- advantage; :particiilarly obectioiiable on: moving Vehicles, of 4-retii-iiring'a :sig-hti'od ,that zis equal in ;length to the 'deptli of the'tank'ahd which fpre- ''ects :almost entirely .aboveitlie tank when ;th'e ``t'an'kvisfull. To :overccine .thisrobjection gauges fioats eachl with a VSight roc of different iengfth which i's efiect-ive tc indicate the vlevelV fof 'the liquid througho'ut' a portion of the deptl'iA ofv the tank: Since the longer rods' for nd-icatin'g the level in the lower porti'ons' of the' tank are visible when the tank is almost full, more 'cr less complicated devices have been employed tdfindic'ate which of the several rods' is showing the true 'level in the tank. My gauge simply andclearly shows which rod .is efi'ectively indicating the level in theV tank and is further easily mounted on the tank with anairtighteonnectionwhich pre'- vents the escape of vapor from the tank;

The draw-ings i-llustrate more' or less conventiorna'lly'v a tractor i having a fuel'tan'k! mountfied underneatli the hood panel 3. My g'a'uge gen'- 'e'rally indicated 'a't' 4 i'moiinted on theffiller cap 5 whichithreadedly connected to' the 'filler ;spout 6 of the tank. The cap '5' is provided with an internally'threaded annularvfiange 'I 'en its under -side and definesfacentral 'aperture 8 with a' lip 9 extending *therearound.` z,

A- transparent sight tube ll! having a 'closed upper end andari outwardly fianged lower end *extends through the aperture 8 with the flange H labpe'd underneath the' lip 9 on the can: ;A gasket' 127 is' Vinterposed .between the Vlipl and flnge to' form fana-ii'tight Aseal 'around the apel' ture 8. A guide tube |3 has-its uper end thread-'- 'ed'in the annular fia'nge 1 and beari-ng against a stop disk 14' to press :the 'disk against the bottom rod l'l. The sight rods H :are slidable telescopi-l cally with respect toA each other, the inner rod being preferablybut not vnecessaril'y solid and the other rods having tubular'cross Sections ;o f graduatedsizef The upper ends of the Vsiglit rods extend upwardly through an aperture ;IB in .the stop disk. |4, the inner rod beingprovided with'agenerally ball-shaped end I!!V and the outer rods being fiared or lbelled to form nesti-ng -ciip shape'd ends 20. The inner cup 20 nestinglyreficeives the ball end [9 and-in turn is received -in the cupped end of the "outer red when the tank is empty.

The isi-ght vrods -I'l are of different lengthsi preferably successive common fracticnal-fdimen- 'sl'ave :been-developed "that-:havenf pci-'elity of "55 sicnscf theg'depth ofthe -i'iaznkzVV In the example 3 llustrated the outer rod is one-third the depth of the tank, the middle rod is two-thirds the depth of the tank, and the inner rod is approximately equal to the depth of the tank. When the tank is full as shown in Fig. 4 all the floats and Sight rods will rise^ until the ball end 19 strikes the top of the sight tube ID and the cupped ends nest around the inner side of the ball. It will be noted that the inner cup 20 is slightly higher than the other cup 20 so that the inner cup will be visible above the outer cup when they are both at the top of their travel.

Preferably the cupped ends and ball end carry different color insignia as shown conventionally in Fig. 6, the ball end |9 being-shown as red, the inner cup being shown as white, and the outer cup being shown as blue.

As the level of the fuel falls in the tank the fioats and sight rods will fall successively, the outer sight rod fallingffirst until its cupped end 20 engages the stop disk M. The middle float and sight rod Will then fall with continued lowering of the fuel level as shown in Fig. .5 and eventually the bottom fioat and inner sight rod will fall to the position shown in Fig. 2.

;Anyone observing the Sight tubelll can easily tell by the relative positions of the cupped ends 20 and ball end |9 What the level of the fuel in tank is. The gauge is readable with equal ease from the front, lback and sides of the tractor, and the Sight tube extends only a relatively short distance above the level of the hood 3 so as not to obstruct the visionof the driver. The gauge is equally effective on any tank and has particular advantages when used on the fuel tanks of light airplanes where the projection of a single long Sight rod into .the slip stream is liable to cause objectionable vibration and malfunctioning of the gauge. V

I have described one cial embodiment of my gauge and have not attempted to show other possible adaptatio'ns thereof. Obviously, the number of floats and Sight rods may be varied and the length of. the sight rods and size of .the cap may be made to fit any depth of tank and size of filler spout. If desired the member 5 may be secured in a more permanent fashion to a different portion of the tank than the filler-spout 6.

I-laving thus described the invention, what is clairned a's new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A tank gauge comprising a cap having a pair of internally threaded annular flanges concentrically located on one side thereof, the outerl of zsaid flanges being arranged to engage the filler spout of a tank, said cap defining a central aperture spaced from said other fiange to form a lip therearound, a transparentsight tube hav-l ing a 'closed upper end and a shouldered' lower end extending through said aperture With said shoulder engaging the inner side of said lip, a gasketinterposed 'between said shoulder and lip, a stop disk positioned within the inner of said annular fianges and bearing against the ends of said Sight tube and gasket, said disk dening a hole concentric with said sight tube, a guide tube having its upper end threaded in said inner flange and clamping said disk against said Sight tube, said guide tube being arranged to extendi to adjacent to the bottom of the tank, a plurality of indcator rods positioned in relatively' slidable telescopic relation and extending through said hole in said disk, said rods being of regularly 'graduated length, the inner of said rods behighly practical commering the longest and approximately as long as said guide tube, fioats secured around the lower ends of said rods and slidable in said guide tube, a balllike indicator on the top of the inner of said rods and fiared cup-shaped indicators on the ends of the others of said rods, said cup-shaped indicators being arranged to nest with each other and with said ball indicator, the outer of said cup- 'shaped indicators being engageable with the edge of said hole in said disk to limit downward movement of said rods and oats, said guide tube being apertured to permit liquid in the tank to assume its level in said guide tube, said indicators being of different length so that all said indicators 'are visible while in nested position.

2. A tank gauge comprising a cap having a pair of threaded ,annular flanges located on one side thereof, the outer of said fianges being arranged to engage a tank, said cap defining a central aperture spaced from said other fiange to form a lip therearound, a transparent sight tube having a closed upper end and a shouldered lower end extending through said aperture with said shoulder engagingv the inner side of said lip, a stop disk positioned within the inner of said annular fianges and bearing against the end of said sight tube, said disk defining a hole opening to said sight tube, a guide tube having lits upper end threaded on said inner fiange and clamping said disk against said sight tube, a plurality of indicator rods positioned in relatively slidable telescopic relation and extending through said hole in said disk, said rods being of graduated length, the inner of said rods being the longest, fioats secured to the lower ends of said rods and slidable in said guide tube, a ball-like indicator on the top of the inner of said rods and cup-shaped indicators on the ends of the others of said rods, said cup-shaped indicators being arranged to nest with each other and with saidball indicator, the outer of said` cup-shaped indicators being engageable with the edge of said hole in said disk to limit downward movement of said rods and floats, said guide tube being apertured to permit liquid in the tank to assume its level in said guide tube.

3. Means for attaching a multi-fioat direct reading gauge to a tank comprising a cap member arranged to be 'secured to the tank, an internally threaded fiange on the bottom of said cap, said cap defining an aperture With a lip therearound and concentric with said flange, a transparent sight tube having a closed upper end and a shouldered lower end positioned against the inside of said lip, a gasket positioned be- 'tween said lip and the shoulder of said tube, a guide tube for said floats threaded in said fiange and having a portion of its upper end clamping said gasket and Sight tube against said lip, and a disk extending across the open end of said sight tube and having its edge clamped between said guide tube and said sight tube, said fioats having telescopically. slidable sight rods secured thereto and extending upvvardly through the aperture in said disk.

4. Means for attaching a multi-iloat direct reading gauge to a tank comprising a cap member arranged to be secured to the tank, a threaded fiange on the bottom of said cap, said cap defining. an aperture with a lip therearound, a transparent sight tube having a closed upper end Vand a shouldered lower end positioned against the inside of said lip, and a guide tube for said Vfloats threaded on said fiange and having a portion of its upper end clamping said sight tube a transparent sight tube having a closed endfand extending through said aperture, a radial fiange on t'he other end' of said sight tube and lapped under said lip, a guide member secured to said annular fiange and clamping said radial fiange against said lip, a stop disc interposed between said guide member and sight tube, a plurality of fioats slidable in said guide member and a plurality of telescopically positioned sight rods of different lengths secured one to each of said fioats p and extending upwardly into said sight tube through said stop disc.

6. Means for attaching a multi-float direct reading gauge to a tank comprising a cap member arranged to be secured over an opening in the tank, an annular fiangeon the under side of said oap, said cap defining' an aperture with a radia] lip therearound and within said fiange` 'a transparent sight tube having a closed end and extending through said aperture, a radia] flange on the other end of said sight tubeand lapped under said lip, a guide member secured to said annular flange and clamping said radial fiange Aagainst said lip, a plurality of fioats slidable in said guide member and a plurality of telescopically positioned sight rods of different lengt'hs secured one to each of said fioats and extending upwardly into said sight tube.

7. A`tank gauge comprising a mounting fixture. a guide tube depending therefrom, said guide tube having a liquid ingress and egress opening at the bottom and a vent opening at its upper end and being otherwise closed, a sight tube mounted on said mounting lfixture in alignment with said guide tube, a plurality of fioats arranged in said guide tube one above another for independent Vertical movement, a plurality of indicator rods of graduated lengths arranged in relatively slidable telescopic relation, the inner rod being the longer, indicators mounted on the upper ends of said rods, said indicators. being adapted to nestingly collapse one within the other when in fully retracted position, and a stop disk at the bottom of said sight tube engageable with the lower of said indicators to support said fioats at various levels when the liquid level successively faus below said fioats. the larger indicator being carried by the outer and shorter indicator rod.

8. A tank gauge comprising a'mounting fixture. a guide tube depending therefrom, said guide tube having a liquid ingress and egress opening at the bottom and a vent opening at its upper end and being otherwise closed, a sight tube mounted on said mounting fixture in alignment with said guide tube, a plurality of fioats arranged in said guide tube one above another for independent Vertical movement, a plurality of indicator rods of graduated lengths arranged in relatively slidable telescopic relation, indicators mounted on the upper ends of said rods, .said indicators being adapted to nestingly Icollapse one within the other when in fully retracted position, and a stop disk at the bottom of said sight tube engageable with the lower of said indicators to support said fioats` at various levels when the liquid level successively falls below said fioats, the larger indicator being carried by the outer and shorter indicator rod.

9. A tank gauge comprising a mounting fixture, a guide tube depending therefrom, said guide tube having a liquid ingress and egress opening at the bottom and a vent opening at its upper end and being otherwise closed, a sight tube mounted on said mounting fixture in alignment with said guide tube, a plurality of indicator rods of gradf uated lengths arranged in relatively slidable telescopic relation and provided with fioats at their inner ends slidable within said guide tube, indicators mounted on the upper ends of said rods,

Vsaid indicators being adapted to nestwhen in fully retracted position, and a stop disk at the bottom of said sight tube engageable with the lower of said indicators to support said fioats at various levels when the liquid level successively falls below said fioats.

LEO W. SCI-IUESSLER.

REFEREN CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,185,985 Clewell June 6, 1916 1,193,744 Wilkinson Aug. 8, 1916 1,435,986 Scoville Nov. 21, 1922 2,255,310 DlArcey Sept. 9, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTs i Number Country Date 504,798 France Apr. 22, 1920 

